Newcastle captain Michael Owen says the club's poor form has hit the players' confidence as the Magpies try to avoid being sucked into a relegation battle.

The Magpies have not won under manager Kevin Keegan and are only six points above the relegation zone.

"Confidence isn't at its best," striker Owen, 28, told BBC Radio 5 Live. "There is nervousness throughout the side.

"We need a win and the sooner the better. As soon as we get that I think confidence will come flooding back."

Keegan returned to the club in January and over the next month his side face matches against Blackburn, Liverpool, Birmingham, Fulham and Tottenham in a bid to accumulate enough points to avoid a struggle against the drop in the run-in to the season.

However, Newcastle captain Owen insists there is no panic in the Newcastle ranks, with 11 games left to play.